Klebsiella

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of bacteria commonly found in the intestinal tract of humans and animals, which can sometimes cause infections
2. A genus of Gram-negative bacteria that can lead to various healthcare-associated infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals
3. A microorganism that is part of normal flora but can be opportunistic, causing pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections in certain conditions

Etymology: Klebsiella is named after Edwin Klebs, a nineteenth-century German pathologist and bacteriologist who studied microorganisms and disease. Bacteriologists honoured him by attaching his surname to a genus of rod-shaped bacteria, and the name follows the usual scientific practice of turning a person's name into a Latinised genus label. The genus itself is a sort of tribute, so the word is less a description of the organism than a memorial to the man who helped establish that microbes could cause illness. Many species in the genus live harmlessly in the intestines of humans and other animals, but some have become significant hospital pathogens, causing pneumonia, urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. The name therefore carries a double association: it honours a pioneer of medical microbiology, and it now labels organisms that clinicians watch closely.

Synonyms: klebsiella bacteria, klebsiella pneumoniae, klebsiella species